The Bachelor or Design for stage and screen at Toi Whakaari is the only course of its kind in New Zealand. It is one of the School’s newest courses and graduates of the Design course have already gone on to be Chapman Trip Theatre Award winners for set and costume design, worked on major movies and created opening ceremonies for Bloomberg and Deutche Bank.

There are still a couple of places left for entry in 2010…

Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School is the national drama school of New Zealand, a breeding ground for the film and theatre industry of New Zealand. Perfectly positioned in Wellington, home of Peter Jackson, Weta Workshop, Park Road Post Productions, the theatre hub and the Creative Capital of NZ, making full use of the networks and opportunities available, Toi Whakaari has evolved from a small acting school to a multi-disciplinary education centre developing practitioners with specialised skills who can work across all areas of stage and screen.

Student presenting designs at Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School

The most recent course on offer at Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School is the Bachelor of Design (Stage & Screen), a three year programme that develops designers with creativity, originality and critical thinking, empowering them as future members of NZ’s performing arts culture. The course equips students with the skills and knowledge to enable them to create and sustain a career; it celebrates diversity and ambition.

Last month Prime Minister John Key opened Toi Whakaari’s brand new design studios at Te Whaea: National Dance & Drama Centre in Newtown. The design wing is the latest addition to the centre and the attendance of John Key is testament to the importance of theatre and screen design to the future of the industry in New Zealand.

Graduates from the design course this year have already managed to score some of the most sought after jobs in Wellington. Ian Hammond and Emma Ransley will be working on Peter Jackson’s new film The Hobbit, Ian is also designing the children’s section of the World of Wearable Arts Awards in 2010. Jessica Sanderson (granddaughter of the late legendary Martyn Sanderson) is working with Taki Rua and the New Zealand International Arts Festival on Mark Twain & Me in Maoriland and also a documentary film. Local boy Richard Larsen, along with fellow designers Hammond, Sanderson and Rowan Pierce recently premiered their 4 part film Quarters, a project that they designed, wrote, filmed and produced.

As well as designers Toi Whakaari produces the production managers, directors, costume makers, technicians, actors, set-builders and lighting designers who go out into today’s film and theatre industry.

FOR MORE DETAILS GO TO WWW.TOIWHAKAARI.AC.NZ.

TUTORS AND INDUSTRY EXPOSURE
To expose the students to the best possible teaching the School employs a range of industry practitioners who are the best in their field to teach the students block courses. These include James Acheson (3 time Oscar winning costume designer), Kate Hawley (theatre and film costume designer – costume designer for The Hobbit), numerous WETA practitioners including Vibol Moeung who taught set model design and construction, Marc Hill (Wellington film and TV maker), Nicola Marshall (TV Designer) and Izzat Design (props, animation and special effects).

BACHELOR OF DESIGN FOR STAGE AND SCREEN – THE COURSE
The Bachelor of Design programme develops designers who demonstrate creativity, originality and critical thinking, empowering them as future members of NZ’s performing arts culture. The course equips students with the skills and knowledge to enable them to create and sustain a career; it celebrates diversity and ambition. Students are encouraged to investigate and develop a collaborative process of making work for theatre, film and related industries.

Model Making Class at Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School

Design students benefit from working alongside students of directing, acting, entertainment technology, performing arts management and costume construction. Through sharing premises with NZ School of Dance and a key relationship with The Film School, student designers also have opportunities to collaborate with contemporary dance and film students.

INDUSTRY SUPPORT FOR THE COURSE
“We, and companies like Weta, will undoubtedly benefit in future from the fantastic course you are developing.”
RICHARD TAYLOR, HEAD OF WETA WORKSHOPS, OSCAR WINNER FOR LORD OF THE RINGS AND KING KONG

“One cannot stress enough the importance of such a course in the process of developing designers in preparation for work in all areas of the performing arts in New Zealand.”
AIDAN LANG, GENERAL DIRECTOR, NBR NEW ZEALAND OPERA

“I wholeheartedly support the design course. Being on site with the drama and dance school is a wonderful opportunity in which to develop industry practitioners of the future.”
GARY HARRIS, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, ROYAL NEW ZEALAND BALLET

“Design is a player equal to any actor. We must treat – and train – our designers as we would actors: with care, passion, hope and wonder.”
TOMMY HONEY, THEATRE DESIGNER & HEAD OF THE NEW ZEALAND FILM AND TELEVISION SCHOOL

“We welcome the fact that within your institution is the opportunity to train graduates in a fully holistic approach integrated with all aspects of theatrical production processes.”
STEPHEN BLACKBURN, GENERAL MANAGER, CAPITAL E NATIONAL THEATRE FOR CHILDREN

“It stands to continue and feed in depth the creative and artisan skills that are needed in this country’s theatre and film industry.”
RAYMOND BOYCE MBE, THEATRE DESIGNER

FOR MORE DETAILS GO TO WWW.TOIWHAKAARI.AC.NZ.

Music as a Foundation of Theatre Origins.

Richard K Thomas

Friday, January 15 2010, 9:30 am – 11:30 am. EST US (2.30pm – 4.30pm GMT)

In this presentation we will explore the debate about the evolutionary origins of music and language, and the various theories regarding the origins of theatre. After looking at these independently, we will look the fundamental role that music played in what is generally regarded as the first autonomous theatre, Greek theatre. These origins will serve as an aesthetic foundation establishing the primal role that music plays in all theatre activities.

For further information and registration details please visit http://www.theatresound.org/webinar_.htm

This online seminar (webinar) is free!

Scenography – The Theatre Design Website has four voluntary position vacancies following Martin Palings announcement that he is to reduce his commitment to the website in March 2010.

Positions Available:

• Editor
• Membership Manager
• Portfolio Support
• Technical Manager

All positions are unpaid.

Descriptions:

Editor

Weekly running of the news services, management of article creation and volunteer writers. Would suit volunteers with a good knowledge of the international theatre design industry and with good contacts within industry. Task may be splint among a number of volunteers and may also be split into “countries”

We get sent a number of publications throughout the year so an ideal way to reduce your book expenditure!

Membership Manager

Weekly management of membership applications (approx 4 per week) Tasks include the creation of new accounts, managing existing accounts, managing upgrades program and member liaison. Could be shared amongst a number of volunteers

Portfolio Support

Helping members use the site, need to be friendly, have a good understanding of the scenography website. Some knowledge of HTML/CSS is useful but not necessary.

Technical Manager

Have a good working knowledge of WPMU or WP and WP Theme creation, Standards compliant HTML/CSS. Knowledge of PHP is useful but not essential.

Hours:

Entirely flexible and to suit your availability.

Please Contact Us for more details.

Richard Eyre: Less is More

Sir Richard Eyre gives the first annual lecture to celebrate the role of theatre design and the theatre designer

Friday 22nd January
5.30pm
Olivier Stage
National Theatre

Tickets: £3.50 (£2.50 students)
Booking: 0207 452 3000

http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/52014/platforms/the-annual-jocelyn-herbert-lecture.html

Funded by the Rootstein Hopkins Foundation as part of the Jocelyn Herbert Archive at Wimbledon College of Art, University of the Arts London

Jocelyn Herbert Lecture

The Prague Quadrennial 2011 team have announced that the venue for the 2011 PQ will be the Veletržní Palace part of the Czech National gallery.

The
12th PQ will take place in the Veletržní Palace (which is a building of the Czech National Gallery) from June 16th to June 26th 2011. The Veletržní Palace is only a few hundred meters away from the previous location – The Industrial Palace within the Prague Exhibition Grounds. The functional building of the Veletržní Palace will thus in 2011 become the center of the PQ as it will host the two main sections – The Countries Section and The Student Section. Aside from the expositions which will be spread on several floors of the building, there will be a number of lectures and classes, as well as many other additional events. However, the artists will also visit the city center, as many shows, exhibitions and performances will take place directly in the streets of Prague, on the piazzetta of the National Theatre or in the building of the Theatre Academy. ~ PQ2011 Press Release

You may view a 360 panorama of the venue here

The prestigious V&A museum in London has been chosen to host the launch of the first edition of the International Festival of Scenic Arts an international event celebrating contemporary stage, set and costume design, organised by The Scenographer magazine in collaboration with a number of leading European universities and their respective faculties of architecture and design.

23 September: The world’s largest museum of design and decorative arts plays host to a series of talks and presentations by world-class design practitioners the calibre of William Dudley, British stage designer, costume designer, video designer and 3D animator, who has most recently designed the sets and costumes for the Broadway musical The Woman in White, produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber. He is joined by lighting designer Rick Fisher, Tony Award winner for Billy Elliot: The Musical. From Italy, we are proud to welcome the multi award winning scenographer Ezio Frigerio and the Academy Award winning costume designer, Franca Squarciapino.

Victoria & Albert Museum – London
23 September 10.00am – 5.00pm
free admission

www.scenic-fest.com

The London College of Fashion have an opening for a 0.4 Principal Lecturer in Costume Design for Performance | £46,676 to £56,412 pro rata (potential for contribution pay up to £63,003 pro rata) | London College of Fashion, W1

This is your opportunity to play a pivotal role within one of the foremost centres of fashion education in the world, leading our MA in Costume Design for Performance.

We will look to you to oversee lesson planning, teaching, assessing, and development of the curriculum. Making a major contribution to the continuing development of the subject at both national and international level is an equally important aspect of the role.

An authority in the field with practice-based knowledge of the subject, you will bring an appreciation for the evolving place of costume design within both academic and performance spheres. With your impressive track record in both teaching and practice, you will prove an inspirational leader who encourages innovation and creativity to the very highest standards. Experience of influencing developments within an academic setting is vital.

In return, we offer a competitive employment package including a salary that reflects working in London; a generous annual leave; a final salary pension; and a commitment to your continuing personal and career development in an environment that encourages creativity, diversity and excellence. Relocation assistance is also available.
This post is subject to a criminal records check by the CRB.

Closing date: 22nd September 2009

http://jobs.arts.ac.uk

The Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art Design & Technology (Ireland) are looking for a 0.5 Assistant Lecturer in Costume Design for Stage and Screen.

The appointee will play an active role in the academic direction of programmes and courses within the School and across the Institute. The performance of the duties of the post requires pro rata attendance in addition to class contact hours during the normal working week. For full details as to the role etc. please see website.

The current salary scale (1/9/08) for a fully qualified Assistant Lecturer ( specified academic qualifications with a minimum of 3 years post qualification experience) is €42,124 to €52,689
( 8 points scale) per annum.

www.iadt.ie

Argentinean designer Julia Clavell has won David Neat’s book ‘Model-making: materials and methods’ in our competition. You may read her winning blog post about model making here. Julia also wins five Sceno:graphy credits which may be used to upgrade her account, runners up are designers David Samuel and Martin Morley who also won 5 Sceno:grapy credits.

Model-making, Materials and Methods

Julia’s Winning blog post
David’s Post
Martin’s Post

We’d like to thank The Crowood Press for donating first prize: A full colour hard back copy of David Neat’s book ‘Model-making: materials and methods’.

David’s excellent books is available directly from the Crowood Press.

The International Festival of Scenic Arts will launch a series of events in Rome with an extraordinary celebration: a tribute to Sir Ken Adam – a life in film.

The 1st Faculty of Architecture “Ludovico Quaroni” of the Università La Sapienza di Roma, to mark the launch of the International Festival of Scenic Arts  in Rome  (26-30 October) will, on 26 October, confer an honorary degree in architecture on acclaimed production designer Sir Ken Adam. The event organisers, in accordance with the University, have wanted to honour Sir Ken with  a degree “honoris causa” in recognition of his achievements as a production designer, having created environments that are not only part of film history, but have universal appeal, icons of a distinct visual style and architectural sensibility.

The afternoon begins with the honorary degree ceremony, followed by a masterclass held by Sir Ken. As evening falls, a multimedia show will be projected onto the University’s imposing façade: a choreographed sequence of large-scale images accompanied by celebrated soundtracks of the most memorable film projects representative of Sir Ken’s illustrious career. The show will be created by multimedia artist  Paolo Buroni.


The International Festival of Scenic Arts  launches in London, on 23 September, at the Victoria & Albert Museum, before migrating to Rome  (27-30 October), at the University “La Sapienza”, then Milan (9-13 November) at the Polytechnic’s Faculty of Architecture & Society, completing its itinerary at SIB in Rimini, (18-20 April 2010) – Europe’s leading Expo on lighting, audio, video and installations for the entertainment industry - with the second edition of the International Contemporary Scenography Days. 
For further information: www.scenic-fest.com